The Risen Son

Malachi 4:1-6 KJV;  Even in the dark days the light of the Son shines.

Don't Let Fear Corral You!

 

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer 29:11 KJV)

The evil in the world is worse than it has ever been! The world is falling apart! The world will end if so and so is elected! Not! I do not believe a word of it. It is time to quit listening to the fear and hate mongering media!

Evil has been in the world since the dawn of time. The world will end when God decides it is time for it to end and not a second before. There is no reason to fear for those who trust the Word of God. The end that God has in mind for all who believe is an unexpected and good end. It is not an end that we should fear. After all; Jesus reminded his followers over and over again not to fear; not to be afraid.

According to St. Paul: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:18)

Hate and fear mongering has corralled many into dark places. It is time. It is past time to step out into the light and live life! Trust that God has a good plan for you!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Light Comes From God Alone

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:19-21 NRSV)

The Word of God is truly like a lamp shining in a dark place. For those who are lost or alone; for those who are suffering; for those who are nearing death, the Good News that the Word Alone can give to them brings peace of heart and mind.

As the scripture plainly tells us, no prophecy of God comes from the human will. The human does not have the knowledge to interpret any prophecy outside of their own desires or fears. The human will only speaks from it's own being. But, the interpretation of prophecy that comes by means of the Holy Spirit brings the will and knowledge of God's will for us to us. The Holy Spirit who is all in all and knows all speaks through those whom the Spirit of Christ abides. The Spirit decides whom He will speak through. God calls those whom He calls. It would be dangerous (deadly) to the one who would interpret saying "the Word of the Lord" when the word that they share is born only from their own desires or fears. If the words we speak are not Spirit led then it would be best not to speak at all.

Do not worry about those who interpret from their own desires or fears. Do not let them lead you astray. The Spirit of God will guide His people in His way. Listen to Him and you will see in all things the light at the dawn of a new day for God desires to bring us light and not darkness.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Keep Awake - Be Prepared!

"Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”  (Mark 13:35-37 NRSV)

Keep awake! No matter what day or hour it is, be prepared. When I was a child, I remember, certain people I knew use to make fun of people of a certain denomination because they would go out drinking and carousing on one evening and then go to confession the next day. They thought it quite strange that people should think that they can go and do things they knew full well they'd be repenting of the next day. The weird thing about it was that the same people who pointed fingers at those making confession actually were out carousing with them; but, they didn't go to confession. 

Doing things that we know we are going to repenting of probably is not a very good idea. It's just not a good idea to be thinking we can manipulate God. Jesus certainly died for our sins; but, does that make it right that we should continue to do those things we know we should not do with the understanding that we can be forgiven? Was Christ's sacrifice worth so little? 

Besides, how do you know that the hour will not come for you to stand before the throne of God while you are in the midst of purposely doing what you know you ought not be doing? 

Keep awake - be prepared! Do not let our Lord return and find you on a path that you should not be following.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Joy Inspite Of Dark Days

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know what they stumble over.

Prov 4:18-19 NRSV

I stayed up a little later than usual last night. Consequently, I ended up sleeping in later than usual, as well. It does not seem to matter whether it is the Upper Peninsula cold or Florida warmth; these darker days of winter definitely affect my need for sleep. I woke up this morning thinking about joy probably because this coming Sunday is the "Sunday of Joy."  But, also during the darker days of Advent I could; most of us could, use a little bit of joy injected into our lives.

I have a pretty good idea why our forefathers designated it as the "Sunday of Joy." First, we are getting closer, only a week a way from the day that we celebrate when the Son of God is born as Son of Man. That is Good News, indeed. It was a very dark world when he was born. He came to be the light that would open our eyes and hearts and minds to the knowledge of our Creator and Redeemer; so that we might follow in the righteous path.

It is also probably called the "Sunday of Joy" because the days are getting shorter and shorter and the darkness is getting longer and longer each day. In the darkness there is much gloom; so we do all that we can to insert a bit of joy into life so that no one despairs.

Soon, very soon, the darkness will be replaced with light. All will be changed (next week) and the days will get brighter longer; even as everything got brighter when Jesus was born to the world. There will still be darkness. But, the light will overcome the darkness as the light shines brighter and brighter until the day that he shall come again. This time in full glory!  In this we rejoice!

God's Peace be with you and may you serve Him always with a joyful heart!

Pr. J

God Is With You Everywhere You Are

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:7-10

I often hear things coming out of the lips of Christians that make me wonder if they truly realize that there is nothing we can do or say that God is not aware of. If Jesus were standing right in front or beside you, would you do what you are doing; say what you are saying?

The reality is that he is right beside you. There is no place in the world that you can go to hide from the Spirit of God. He is with you always to guide you. Listen to him. Follow in his footsteps; wherever they will lead you.

May the Lord, our God, make known his presence to you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Be Still

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

I prefer early mornings to mid-day. If I wake early enough, everything is mostly quiet around me. It is much easier to be still in the presence of God when there is not too much activity around.

In the wee hours of the morning, I can talk to God uninterrupted. It is also quiet enough to listen to the God who can bring the storms as well as still them. In the stillness of dawn, when everyone else is still sleeping, we can be assured that we are not alone. God is with us. He is our fortress.

Be still and know that the great "I Am" is with you.

God's Peace - Pr. J